Panzanella

Panzanella
From Barefoot Contessa

3 tablespoons good olive oil
1 small French bread or boule, cut into 1-inch cubes (6 cups)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 large, ripe tomatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, and sliced 1/2-inch thick
1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 red onion, cut in 1/2 and thinly sliced
20 large basil leaves, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons capers, drained

For the vinaigrette:
1 teaspoon finely minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
1/2 cup good olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Heat the oil in a large saute pan. Add the bread and salt; cook over low to medium heat, tossing frequently, for 10 minutes, or until nicely browned. Add more oil as needed. For the vinaigrette, whisk all the ingredients together.

In a large bowl, mix the tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, yellow pepper, red onion, basil, and capers. Add the bread cubes and toss with the vinaigrette. Season liberally with salt and pepper.

Serve, or allow the salad to sit for about half an hour for the flavors to blend.

Crab, Corn, and Tomato Salad with Lemon-Basil Dressing

Crab, Corn, and Tomato Salad with Lemon-Basil Dressing
Adapted from Cooking Light: Cooking through the Seasons

If I could eat only seafood, I would.I just could not pass up the crab that has been available at my grocery store lately. This salad was so refreshing and delicious. The tart dressing contrasts with the sweet corn, tomatoes, and crab. Yum!

1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, divided
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup fresh corn kernels (about 2 ears)
1/4 cup thinly sliced basil leaves
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
1 pound lump crabmeat, shell pieces removed
3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

Combine rind, 3 tablespoons juice, and next 5 ingredients (through black pepper) in a large bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add remaining 2 tablespoons juice, corn, and remaining ingredients to remaining juice mixture; toss gently to coat. Drizzle about 1 teaspoon reserved juice mixture over each serving.

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this salad. It is so delicious.

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad
Adapted from Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics

1 (1 1/2-pound) butternut squash, peeled and 3/4-inch) diced
Good olive oil
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons dried cranberries
3/4 cup apple cider or apple juice
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons minced shallots
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
4 ounces baby arugula, washed and spun dry (I used a spring mix)
1/2 cup walnuts halves, toasted

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place the butternut squash on a sheet pan. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, the maple syrup, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and toss. Roast the squash for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until tender. Add the cranberries to the pan for the last 5 minutes.

While the squash is roasting, combine the apple cider, vinegar, and shallots in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until the cider is reduced to about 1/4 cup.

Off the heat, whisk in the mustard, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper.

Place the arugula in a large salad bowl and add the roasted squash mixture, the walnuts, and the grated Parmesan. Spoon just enough vinaigrette over the salad to moisten and toss well. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Yield: 4 servings

Salad with Warm Goat Cheese

Salads are so much better with a crunch! This is one of my favorite light lunches/dinners. The goat cheese is so creamy and lemony - it tastes so much better this way than simply crumbled. This recipe is originally from Barefoot Contessa, so I included her dressing recipe. When I make it, I just put a salad together with whatever vinaigrette I have on hand or I'll dress it with just olive oil, salt and pepper.



Salad with Warm Goat Cheese

1 (11-ounce) log plain or herbed Montrachet
4 extra-large egg whites, beaten with 1 tablespoon water
Panko bread crumbs

For the dressing:
2 tablespoons good cider vinegar
2 tablespoons good Champagne vinegar
Pinch sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 extra-large egg yolk
1 cup good olive oil

Enough mixed salad greens for 6 servings

Olive oil and unsalted butter, for frying

Slice the Montrachet into 12 (1/2-inch-thick) slices. (The easiest way to slice goat cheese is to use a length of dental floss.) Dip each slice into the beaten egg whites, then the bread crumbs, being sure the cheese is thoroughly coated. Place the slices on a plate and chill them for at least 15 minutes in the fridge.

For the dressing, place the vinegars, sugar, salt, pepper, and egg yolk in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and blend for 1 minute. With the motor running, slowly pour the olive oil through the feed tube until the vinaigrette is thickened. Season, to taste.

Toss the salad greens with enough dressing to moisten, then divide them among 6 plates.

Melt 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a saute pan over medium-high heat until just under smoking. Cook the goat cheese rounds quickly on both sides until browned on the outside but not melted inside. Top each salad with 2 warm rounds and serve.

Candied Almond Salad

This salad is sooo good. It is sweet and tangy, crunchy and refreshing. I personally like the vinaigrette with only 1/3 olive oil, but thats me. This is a great salad that seems like a lot of work but is really quick and easy to prepare. You can use any type of lettuce or greens and nuts, whatever you have.



Candied Almond Salad

Candied Almonds:
1 (6-oz.) package almond slivers
2 tablespoons butter, melted
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon curry powder
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper

Maple-Cider Vinaigrette:
1/3 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2/3 cup olive oil

Salad:
1 (10-oz.) package fresh leafy greens or baby spinach, thoroughly washed
1 apple, thinly sliced
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 (4-oz.) package crumbled goat cheese

Preheat oven to 350°. Toss almonds in butter. Stir together sugar and next 4 ingredients in a bowl; add pecans, tossing to coat. Spread in a single layer in a nonstick aluminum foil-lined pan. Bake 8 – 10 minutes or until lightly browned and toasted. Cool in pan on a wire rack 20 minutes; separate almonds with a fork.

To prepare vinaigrette, whisk together cider vinegar and next 4 ingredients. Gradually whisk in oil until well blended.

Prepare Salad. Combine greens or spinach and next 3 ingredients in a bowl. Drizzle with desired amount of Maple-Cider Vinaigrette; toss to coat. Sprinkle with almonds. Serve salad with any remaining vinaigrette.